Mary Allen
How do you find the best connection to your own dog? Especially with the right way of speaking. That’s how it’s done!
Have you noticed how your four-legged friend reacts very differently depending on how you talk to them? Many people think that over time their loved ones will learn the meaning of the words that are said to them. But that is a mistake. He primarily understands the sound of the word and associates it with a specific behavior, person or object.
The more concise a word sounds, the easier it is for him to remember it. Because of this, many classic commands have sibilants or long vowel sounds. If a learned word is incorporated into a sentence, its sound changes and is often no longer perceived. So how you tell your dog something is critical to its obedience.
It depends on the emphasis
The human voice can not only express words but also transport moods. Most of the time we don’t even notice these small changes in the tone, for example when we’re angry or sad. However, the sensitive dog ear notices even the smallest mood swings in how we speak to it. This can irritate him and make him want to keep his distance or simply not understand what you want from him.
If you call him an ugly bastard in a loving voice, he will only take note of your friendly tone and wave your hand at you happily. Conversely, if you drop it casually and in an annoyed tone of voice, he won’t understand your praise. So if your four-legged friend doesn’t respond to your command immediately, try again and consciously pay attention to the tone of your voice.
The quiet dog
If your pet is of the quiet type, you should choose a cheerful, motivating tone for your commands. He needs some emotional excitement from you to get going. Presumably, this also makes him very attentive, so it is enough to speak to him at a normal volume or even quieter.
This is especially important if he gets anxious easily: Loud or deep voices sound aggressive and threatening to him and he will then think twice about whether to listen to you or run away. Use your high, positive voice to convey confidence and security. If he still doesn’t follow, a small, carefully dosed portion of loving severity in the tone is helpful.
The awake dog
If, on the other hand, your animal companion is one of the brightest representatives of its kind, it is best to speak to him in a calm tone. Excessively lively speech can make him even more exuberant with joy and make it difficult for him to think clearly and carry out your commands. He may interpret your tone of voice as a prompt to play and become even more upset, which negatively impacts his problem-solving ability.
However, if you speak too aggressively to him when he’s having so much fun, there’s a good chance he’ll choose to ignore you. Choose a soft, soothing, but also firm tone, because uncertainties are also conveyed via the voice and can result in your dog understanding the command more as a suggestion than as an order. The same applies here: a high, quiet voice is more likely to lead to success than shouting.
Absolutely avoid screaming
Resist the urge to vent your anger by shouting. You’ll only scare a weak-hearted dog and a daredevil will take you even less seriously. It is better to save yourself from screaming only as an emergency signal, should a situation become really acutely dangerous.
So always remember: the sound makes the music!